1. Orally-transmitted Chagas disease.
- Author
-
Filigheddu MT, Górgolas M, and Ramos JM
- Subjects
- Animals, Chagas Disease diagnosis, Chagas Disease epidemiology, Chagas Disease prevention & control, Disease Outbreaks, Disease Reservoirs parasitology, Disease Vectors, Humans, South America epidemiology, Chagas Disease transmission, Food Parasitology, Fruit and Vegetable Juices parasitology, Trypanosoma cruzi
- Abstract
Chagas disease is a zoonosis caused by protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, which is most frequently associated with a vectorial transmission. However, in recent years we have observed a significant increase in the oral transmission of the disease, associated mainly with the consumption of drinks made from fruit or other vegetables contaminated with triatomine faeces or secretions from infected mammals. After a latency period of 3 to 22 days after ingestion, the oral infection is characterized by more severe manifestations than those associated with vectorial transmission: prolonged fever, acute myocarditis with heart failure and, in some cases, meningoencephalitis. Mortality can reach up to 33% of those infected. The aim of this paper is to review this matter and to promote prevention practices., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)
- Published
- 2017
- Full Text
- View/download PDF